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איך פּאַרל"אַנג ניט אַלץ:

I don't demand everything:

Work 424 of 440

Page 502. Conclusion of 'Ikh dank far alts' (I Thank for Everything): the title phrase becomes refrain. 'Farlang nit alts' = don't demand everything. 'Mayn teyl' = my share/portion. Paradox: taking one's share 'vi kh'volt nemen alts' (as if taking everything) - contentment as fullness. 'Bin ikh geven in alts' = I have been in everything - full participation in life. 'Genug alts' = enough of everything. The 'aza min nar' returns - now unclear if referring to death or speaker himself - both fools, both smiling. Final line stands alone: 'Ikh dank far alts' - gratitude as final word. The '108' at bottom may be a poem number. The poem transforms death from terror to companionship through mutual foolishness and gratitude.

Yiddish Original

איך פּאַרל"אַנג ניט אַלץ:

איך געם נאַר מיין טייל,

ווי כ'וואָלט נעמען אַלץ ;

איך האָב געהאַט מיין טייל =--

בין איך געעוון אין אַלץ.

האָב איך געהאַט גענוג אַלץ.

און איך דאַנק פּאַר אַלץ,

איך דאַנק פּאַר אַל? -=

אַזאַ מין נאֶר,

איך דאַנק פּאַר אַלץ.

108

Transliteration

Ikh farlang nit alts:

ikh nem nor mayn teyl,

vi kh'volt nemen alts;

ikh hob gehat mayn teyl --

bin ikh geven in alts.

Hob ikh gehat genug alts.

Un ikh dank far alts,

ikh dank far alts --

aza min nar.

Ikh dank far alts.

108

English Translation

I don't demand everything:

I take only my share,

as if I would take everything;

I have had my share --

I have been in everything.

I have had enough of everything.

And I thank for everything,

I thank for everything --

such a kind of fool.

I thank for everything.

108

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE

Page 502. Conclusion of 'Ikh dank far alts' (I Thank for Everything): the title phrase becomes refrain. 'Farlang nit alts' = don't demand everything. 'Mayn teyl' = my share/portion. Paradox: taking one's share 'vi kh'volt nemen alts' (as if taking everything) - contentment as fullness. 'Bin ikh geven in alts' = I have been in everything - full participation in life. 'Genug alts' = enough of everything. The 'aza min nar' returns - now unclear if referring to death or speaker himself - both fools, both smiling. Final line stands alone: 'Ikh dank far alts' - gratitude as final word. The '108' at bottom may be a poem number. The poem transforms death from terror to companionship through mutual foolishness and gratitude.

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I don't demand everything: · H. Leivick: Complete Works · Half-Voll Attempts